Division One South: Roscommon 0-16 Dublin 1-22
WITH Mick Galvin patrolling the sideline in the absence of the suspended Dessie Farrell, Dublin cantered to victory at Dr Hyde Park yesterday.
While Roscommon managed to keep Con O’Callaghan, Brian Fenton and James McCarthy relatively quiet over the 70 minutes Cormac Costello finished the game with 1-13 in the absence of Dean Rock. Costello kicked three penalties over the 70 minutes: converting the first, striking a post with the second and pointing with the third late on.
Michael Shiel made his competitive debut in nets for Dublin while Seán McMahon started at corner-back. Tom Lahiff partnered Brian Fenton at midfield as Dara Mullin played at wing-forward.
Dublin didn’t mess about early on – in the opening quarter, they scored 1-8 from nine shots, the goal coming via Costello’s first penalty in the 18th minute after Brian Stack tripped Paddy Small as he bore down on goal.
With Niall Scully supplying good ball into the full-forward line, Costello had 1-8 on the board by the interval. Roscommon, meanwhile, kicked some fine scores from distance through Niall Daly, Donie Smith and Ciarán Murtagh.
Underling Dublin’s ruthlessness, it was the third minute of first-half injury-time before they registered a wide, through Paddy Small.
Roscommon lost Fergal Lennon to a black card after he tripped Dara Mullin, Costello striking a post from the resulting penalty. Roscommon refused to lie down, however, and hit the next two scores from Donie Smith frees.
The scoring slowed down considerably in the second period until Ciarán Kilkenny finally burst into life and clipped over three fine efforts in the final quarter.
Ciarán Murtagh was one of Roscommon’s best performers and finished with four from play and two frees. Costello popped his third penalty over the bar after the Rossies were penalised for a Niall Daly foot block on Fenton.
